Toaster



J. W. MYERS Jan. l1, 1944.

TOASTER Filed Oct. 17, 1941 5 Sheets-sheet 1 Jan. 11, 1944. J W MYERS 2,339,183

TOASTER Filed OCt. 17, 1941 5 Sheets-Sheet 2 J. W. MYERS Jan; 1l, 1944.

TOASTER Filed Oot. 17, 1941 5 Sheets-Sheet 5 Jan. 11, 1944. J. w. MYERS TOASTER 5 Sheets-Sheet 4 Filed Oct. 17, 1941 J, M YERS Jan. l l, 1944.

, TOASTER 5 sheetssham 5 Filled oct 17, 1941 Patented Jan. 11, 1944 TOASTEB Joseph W. Myers, Philadelphia, Pa., asslgnor to Proctor Schwartz. Inc., Philadelphia, Pa., a corporation oi Pennsylvania Application October 17, 1941, Serial No. 415,455

Claims.l

This invention relates to automatic cooking devices and more particularly to automatic bread toasters for the toasting of bread slices to4 a desired color and to a desired degree of crispness.

In most toasters proposed heretofore, it has been the practice to toast bread slices by subjecting them to a continuous predetermined nonadjustable rate of toasting until the surfaces have reached the desired color. Such toasters have employed a single manually adjustable control by means ci which the operator may eii'ect the toasting of the bread to a desired color such as light, medium. or dark. This adjustable control functions to control the toasting interval,l usually through the medium of a thermostatic switch or mechanical clock adjusted by the said control. In most modern toasters, the current is cut oi! and the toasted bread is discharged at the end of the toasting period.

In automatic toasters of this type, it has been impossible to control the crispness or texture of the toasted bread to obtain varying degrees of crispness vfor any particular color. Where crisp,

dry toast has been desired. as by invalids, it has been necessary to make such toast in an oven wherein the bread is subjected to a moderate heat ior a considerable time, rather than by the usual toasting method wherein the bread is subjected to a rather intense, searing heat for a short time. It should be noted that the crispness of a piece of toast depends upon the length oi' time it has been subjected to heat suflicient in temperature to drive out the water vapor.

It has been proposed heretofore, in my copending application Serial No. 379,706, filed February 19, 1941, to toast bread to a desired color by subjecting it to a toasting period oi' high toasting rate, and to dry the bread to a desired texture or crispness by subjecting it to a toasting period o1 a substantially lower toasting rate. The principal object of my present invention is to provide an automatic bread toaster in which the period oi toasting and the rate of toasting are cooperatively variable so that the d egree of crispness of toast oi a selected color may be manually selectable by the operator.

It is further desirable in toasting bread to make the most economical use of energy to obtain the toasting of the bread.- in order to afford minimum cost of operation to the customer and to cause minimum power drain from the power supply source.

The toasting of bread is more rapidv when the ventilation oi a toaster is restricted so 'Y that less heat is lost by convectionair currents leaving the toaster. For example," a toaster, the

bottom oi.' which is closed oi! to restrict the ventilation, will make a medium brown slice of toast in 1% minutes with 600 watt heating units. With a toaster in which the ventilation is not thus restricted, 1000 watts or more is required for the heating units in order to'. make toast oi' the same color in the same time. It is proposed, according to the present invention, to use a low wattage toaster in which the ventilation may be varied so as to vary thetoasting rate and thus allow for variable degrees of crispness. It is obvious that other means might be used, for changing the toasting rate, in place of the variable ventilation. Thus, the toasting rate might be varied with the use of a constant ventilation, but a variable average wattage' input to the toaster. This variable input might be obtained in a variety of well known ways, such as connecting resistances or impedances in series 'with the toasting yunits and thus reducing the voltage and hence' the wattage ofthe toasting units.

by connecting a thermal or mechanical variableinput device in series with the heating elements to reduce the average energy input rate, or by the use ot a variable auto-transformer to reduce the i age in which the crispness of the toast as well as the color thereof is manually selectable by the operator. l

A further object of the invention is to provide a variable toasting rate in an automatic electric toaster by varying the degree ci. ventilation of the toaster.

Other objects and i'eaturesoi the invention will be apparent hereinafter.

In the accompanying drawings:

Fig. 1 is a graph showing the variation o! toasting rate andcrispness with the time or toasting for the production of toast oi' a desired color;

Fig. 2 is a perspective viewof a toaster embodying the invention:

Fig. 3 is a perspective view oi a portion of the toaster, showing the bread carriage and mount'- ing therefor;

Fig. 4 is a sectional view taken along line 4-4 of Fig. 3; l

Fig. 5 is a sectional view taken along line 5-l oi Fig. i; I

Fig. 6 is a fragmentary view similar to Fig. 5 showing the parts in diilerent position;

Fig. 7 is a perspective view of the outer shell and base of the toaster taken from such an angle as to show the Ventilating means by which the cooking rate is varied:

Fig. 8 is a detail face view of the color and crispness controls;

Fig. 91s a perspective view of the interior structure removed from the outer cover or casing;

Fig. 10 is a fragmentary perspective view of the base and cover showing control mechanism and its mounting; l

Fig. 11 is a front view of the interior structure showing the operating mechanism in non-operative condition;

Fig. 12 is a similar view showing the mechanism in operative condition v Fig. 13 is a fragmentary detail perspective view showing the clock operating spring;

Fig. 14 is a front face view of the operating mechanism takenfrom just inside the front wall of the outer cover and showing the adjusting mechanism;

Fig. 15 is an enlarged detail view of the clock control mechanism; and

Fig. 16 is a sectional view taken along line IG-IG of Fig. 15.

' Fig. 1 demonstrates more fully the principle upon which the present invention operates. In this figure are shown graphically the relation between the toa'sting rate and the time necessary to produce toast of a given color, and the relation between the time of toasting and the crispness produced in toast of a given color. It will be understood that for all points on these curves the same initial thermal condition of the toaster is assumed before the toasting cycle begins. It can be readily seen that as the toasting rate decreases, the time required to toast the bread to the given color is considerably lengthened. Also, as this time is lengthened, the degree of crispness of the toast is considerably increased. It will be understood, oi' course. since the degree of crispness is a subjective quantity and dimcult to measure, the curve of crispness is really only a qualitative indication of the variation. Further, it will be understood that a separate pair of curves will exist for any chosen color, similar to the ones shown, andthe various details of the curv aswell as the units along the coordinate axes will be determined by the color of toast under consideration as well as the structural details of the speciiic toaster in question, such as degree of ventilation, wattage of the heating elements, method of varying toastingtime. precise initial condition chosen for obtaining the points on the curves, and so on.

A speoiilc embodiment of the invention is disclosed in the other gures. I provide an automatie electric toaster shown generally in Fig. 2, having the usual body I, bread wells 2, andheat- -ing elements (not visible) which are preferably of low wattage as mentioned above. A knob 3 is provided. by means of which the bread carriage 4 (Figs. 3 and 4) may be manually moved into',r

a toasting position. A knob 5 is provided-by means of which the operator may vary'rthefcolor" of the toast manually. and a knobmgis-provided .by means of which the operatoriixiay manually select the texture of the toast. These knobs and their associated indicia are shown in. greater detail in Fig. 8.

A front plate 1 (see Fig. 9) is provided which carries a clock l, a switch 3 which controls the heating elements, and clock operating arid tripping mechanism. 'Ihe plate 1 is slightly spaced absorb the shock of the motion of bread carriage 4 at the upper end of its travel. A spring I5 is provided, slidably movable along post II, for a. purpose to be described later. An arm I6 extends outward from bread carriage 4 through slot I1 in plate 1, and further through slot I3 in the outer cover. To the end of arm I6 is attached the knob 3. 'I'he bread carriage 4 is urged gravitationally to assume its depressed position if allowed to do so, but it is normally held in eievated position, as described hereinafter.

A carriage-actuating slide I9 is slldably mounted on post II below carriage 4. The slide I9 is loosely mounted on the post II so that a rocking motion with respect to post II is allowed. On slide I 9 is a tab 2li to which is fastened the lower end of a tension spring 2 I the upper end of which is attached to tab I2 on plate 1., so that the slide I9 is urged to its raised or elevated position. The spring 2i also urges the slide I s to rock in` a clockwise direction as viewed in Fig. 5. Fixed on the slide I9 is a pin 22 which extends through slot I1. Over the longer portion of its length slot l1 is aligned substantially with post Il, so that when pin 22 rides in this portion of slot I1, the slide I9 is prevented from rocking in a clockwise direction, and the slide will move freely in a vertical direction. Near its lower end, the slot I1 has an oil'set portion 23 (Fig. 5) which is out of alignment with post II, so that slide Il can rock clockwise when pin 22 enters the oset portion. The shoulder 24 thus receives the force of the spring 2| in a substantially normal direction, and prevents upward motionof slide I9, when the same is moved to its lower or depressed position. It will be seen that the relatlonof carriage 4 and slide I9 is such that when carriage 4 is moved to its depressed position, it forces slide I9 into its depressed position, wherein it latches as described above. When slide I9 is moved to its raised position, carriage 4 is also carried to its raised position.

A lever 25 (see Figs. 11 to 13) is pivoted at 25 on switch 9. One end of lever 25 is arranged to actuate switch 3 which is a conventional toggle switch. A strong helical spring 21 is centered on pivot 26 and is arranged to urge the lever 25 in a counterclockwise direction, as viewed in Figs. 11 and 12. A connecting link 28 is pivotally attached to lever 25 at 23. Link 23 is pivotaliy attached to lever 30 of clock 3 (see Figs. 15 and 16). The clock is supplied with energy from the spring 21 through lever 25 and link 25. Lever 35 is pivotally mounted on stud 3| afiixed to the nook mme sz. A stud u ricuuy attached to f 38 o n member 31 which is keyed to a rotatable -sh'aft 31a. A gear 38 is loosely mounted on shaft 31a and is frlctionally vcoupled to member 31 through resilient disc 35a. Gear 33 is connected through gears 39 and 40 to the escapement mechanism which is of conventional form.

The hooked end of pawl 34 carries a stud 4I on which is mounted a roller 42. A'cam member 43, loosely mounted on stud 3i, is engageable by roller 42 to release the pawl from shoulder 36, as described hereinafter. Member 43 carries a pin 44 which extends into a slot 45 in arm 40. The latter forms part of an adjusting mechanisxn to be described later and by which the cam member may be variously positioned to vary the time duration of the toasting cycle.

When the lever 25 is rotated clockwise from the positionot Fig. 11. lever 20 is rotated clockwise, and pawl 34 engages shoulder 28. At the same time, the projection 24a on the pawl engages member 91 and positions it for commencement of the timing cycle. The energy stored in spring 21 is transferred through lever 25, link 28, and lever 30 to member 91 which rotates slowly counterclockwise, its motion being governed by the escapement mechanism to which it is frictionally coupled. During this movement roller 42 rides up the cam edge 43a. of cam member 43 and gradually raises the hooked end of pawl 34 until it is' disengaged from shoulder 38.

When this takes place, the lever 25 snaps to its greatest counterclockwise position, shown in Fig. 1l,v and in doing so it strikes pin 22 and releases the pin from its latched position, thereby terminating the toasting operation. l

From the vabove description, it will be seen that the time duration of the toasting cycle is dependent on the position of the cam member 43, the adjusting mechanism for which will be described presently.

For the purpose of this invention, the clock employed is capable ot operating over a longer interval than those employed in previous toasters of this general type. For example, the clock may have a maximum running period of 6 or more minutes as opposed to a running period of 4 lor less minutes for clocks in prior toasters of this general type.

Referring again to Figs. ll and l2, there is loosely pivoted on lever 25 an actuating member 41. A spring 48 is wound helically about a pin. 49 on member 41. One end of spring 48 is looped about a pin 50 on` member 41, while the other end of spring 48 is looped at 5I about leverf25. This arrangement urges the member 41 in a counterclockwise direction when the lever 25 is in its full counterclockwise position, as in Fig. 1l, but allows member 41 to rotate in a clockwise direction under the force of gravity when lever 25 is in its full clockwise position, as in Fig. 12. The pin 50 cooperates with a tab 52 bent out from plate 1. When the member 41 is at either end of its travel, as in Figs. 1l and 12, the pin 50 does not engage tab 52, but at intermediate position engagement between these parts occurs. When the member 41 is in its upper position, it is urged in a counterclockwise direction, and as pin 50 is not in engagement with tab 52, the member moves to engage a tab 53 also bent out from plate 1. When arm I5 is depressed manually, it engages shoulder 54 of member 41 (see Fig. 11) and depresses it to its lower position.

` During this travel, the pin 50 prevents the member 41 from rotating clockwise by virtue of its being to the left of tab 52. When the arm I8 is released, it rises slightly (due to spring l5), and disengages itself from shoulder 54 of member 41. Member 41 thereupon rotates clockwise under the force of gravityfuntil it engages wall 55 of a retention stop'56 attached to plate 1 (see Figs. 9 and 12). As the lever 25 rotates counterclockwise, the member 41 moves upward. During this travel, pin 50 is to the right of tab 52 and prevents rotation of the member 41 in a counterclockwise direction. At the upper end of travel, the pin 50 rises above tab 52 and the member 41 rotates counterclockwise by virtue o! y 3 spring 4l. as explained heretofore. member 55 serves to prevent 'the actuating member 41 from getting out or tbeplane ot operation o! the parts duc to its relatively tree connection to lever 25. l

The operation o! the mechanism so far described is as follows:

The parts areinitially as shown in Fig. 1l, the bread carriage being raised and the switch 9 being open. The operator, in initiating the toasting cycle, places bread upon the bread support 4 and then depresses 'knob 3,. This depresses slide I9, which is latched in position by the cooperation of pin 22 with offset portion of slot i1. Simultaneously, member 41 is depressed, rotating lever 25 in a clockwise direction, thereby storing energy in spring 21 and actuating switch 9, energizing the heating elements of the toaster. When the operator releases knob 3, arm I6 moves up slightly allowing member 41 to move clockwise as described heretofore and allowingthe release of energy i'rom springy 21 to operate the clock mechanism 8. Bread carriage 4 remains in its depressed position due to gravitational force exerted thereon. Clock 8 allows rotation of lever v25 in a counterclockwise direction under the force of spring 21 and element 41 moves upward gradually. Alter a period determined by the posi- 'tion o! cam member 48, pawl 84 is released, and

the lever 25 snaps to uppermost position, utilizing the remaining energy stored in spring 21, carry.- ing pin 50 above tab 52, and thereby allowing member 41 to rotate counterclockwise. The movement .of lever 25 opens switch 9, and during this movement the lever strikes pin 22, driving it out of engagement with shoulder 24 into the portion of slot i1 which is aligned with 4post ll. Slide I9 then risesunder the influence of spring 2|, carrying with it bread carriage 4, thus electing the bread and causing arm I8 to rise to its uppermost position, so that shoulder 54 of member 41 may be positioned therebeneath ready for the next operation. f

Although the toaster shown is of the type which is uncompensated, and must thus be preheated before making toast slices, it is obvious thata clock compensated for the thermal condition ofk the bread well in well known manner could be employed. In this case, a clock having a somewhat longer cycle would have to be employed in order to permit the cooking of a crisp, dark slice of toast from the cold condition if this is desired.

If the spring 21 does not provide the necessary force to drive the clock at the .desired rate, va booster spring may be employed. In Figs. 11 and 12a booster spring is shown at 18 in cooperation with a bell crank 19 which engages member 91 and urges it counterclockwise.

Referring now particularly to Figs. 7,. 10 and 14,

the baseplate 51 has a series of openings 58 therein. A plate 59 is slidably mounted on the base` plate, for example by screws cooperating with cut-out recesses 5I at the sides of plat 59.

Plate 59 has a series of openings 52 of the sme size and spacing as openings 58 and adapted to cooperate therewith. When plate 59` is fully tof ward the front of the toaster, the openings 62 are not aligned with openings 58 and the ventllation of the toaster is highly restricted. When plate 59 is fully toward the rear, the openings 62 and the openings 58 are fully aligned, permitting a high degree of ventilation. A bell crank 63 is pivotally mounted on base 51 at 84 and is'connected to plate 59 by the pin and slot connection 65. The forward'end of bell crank 52 Retention extends through a slot in a link il which is pivotally attached to an arm of a bell crank I1 mounted on the wall 8l of the toaster cover at 61a. The other arm o! bell Icrank 81 is pivotally coupled to one end of a link 89 by a pin 10 which extends through and is actuated by a slotted cam 1| rotatably' mounted on at 12 and carrying the crispness control knob 6. The other end of link 69 carries a pin 1l which extends into the cam slot o1 a second cam 14 rotatably mounted on wall 68 at 15 and carrying the color control knob 5. A link 1I has its ends pivotally connected to arm 4B and link 69, respectively. Arm 46 is pivotally attached to wall 68 at 11.

By ymeans of the above-described linkages and cams, the time duration of the toasting cycle and the toasting rate are controlled, as wil1 be seen from the following description of the operation. For soft toast, knob 8 is rotated fully counterclockwise, as viewed in Figures 2 and 8, which eilects forward movement of plate I9 through the action of cam 1|, bell crank I1, link 08 and bell crank 63, and the ventilation of the toaster is restricted. The knob! is adjusted to select a. desired color of toast. which in full counterclockwise position, as viewed in Figures 2 and 8, adjusts the position ofvmembers E9, 16 and 48 so that cam member 43 is in such a position that .the time of operation of the clock produces a piece of light toast. As the knob 5 is rotated clockwise, cam 14 operates through linkage 61, 1B, 46 to move cam member 43 clockwise, as viewed in Fig. 15, thus increasing the time duration produce darker toast.

Ii.' crisper toast is desired, knob` 0 is rotated clockwise, which effects rearward movement of plate 59 through the clockwise rotation of cam 1| and the associated linkage, thus bringing slots 62 into increasing alignment with slots 5I. The passage of a greater current of air through the toaster reduces the toasting' rate, so that the bread must be toasted longer to obtain the desired color. When cam 1| is rotated clockwise, link 89 is also rotated clockwise about pin 1I, thus moving link 16 generally upward, with a resulting increase in time duration of the toasting cycle. For any setting oi.' the color control cam 14, adjustment oi' the crispness control cam 1| will vary the toasting rate and will simultaneof the toasting cycle to wall 0l v `Knob 5 rotates cam 14,

ously vary the time duration oi the toasting cycle a in correlation with the toasting rate to give the desired degree of crispness as well as the desired color. 4

With a particular toasting ,rate established by the setting of cam 1|, the color of the toasted bread depends upon the time duration oi' the toasting cycle which is established by the adjustment of the color control cam 14. Hence the cam 14 varies' the time duration only of the toasting cycle. With a particular setting of cam 14 to give a desired color, adjustment oi' cam 1| must not only vary the toasting rate but must also vary the time duration of the toasting cycle in proper correlation therewith so as to obtain the desired crispness and the desired color. The cams and associated linkages are designed to give the above results, and if they are constructed and arranged substantially. asv illustrated, such results will be obtained.

The invention is capable of modicaticn by those skilled in the art and is not limited in scope by the specific embodiment disclosed, but only by the appended claims.

I claim:

1.In an 'automatic toaster, bread toasting means. means for controlling the duration of the toasting period, means for adjusting the rate o1' bread toasting, manually-operable means for adjusting said second-named means, and other manually-operable means for adjusting said third-named means and for further adjusting said second-named means, whereby to obtain toast of a desired color and crispness.

2. In an automatic bread toaster, manuallyadjustable means for controlling the duration of the toasting cycle according to the color of toast desired, and other manually-adjustable means for controlling both the toasting rate and the cycle duration in correlation to give a desired degree of toast crispness when the bread reaches the said color.

3. In an automatic bread toaster, adjustable timing means for controlling the duration oi' the `toasting cycle, manually-controllable means for adjusting said timing means according to the color of toast desired, and manually-adjustable means for varying the toasting rate and for simultaneously adjusting said timing means in correlation with the toasting rate to give a desired degree of toast crispness when the bread reaches the said color.

4. In an automatic bread toaster, adjustable 5. In an automatic bread toaster, adjustable means for controlling the duration of the toasting cycle, adjustable means for controlling the toasting rate, and manually-controllable means for g adjusting said i-lrst two means in correlation to e'ect toasting of the bread to a desired color and Aa desired degree of crispness.

6. In an automatic bread toaster, adjustable means for controlling the duration of the toasting cycle, adjustable means for controlling the toasting rate, a pair of control manuals, means operable by one of said manuals to adjust said first means according to the color of toast desired, andv means operable by the other of said manuals for adjusting said ilrst two means in correlation to impart a desired degree of crispness to the bread when it reaches the said color.

7. In an automatic bread toaster, mechanically adjustable timing means vfor controlling the duration of the toasting cycle, mechanically adjustable ventilating means i'or controlling the toasting rate, a pair of manually-adjustable cams, an operating linkage between one of said cams and said Ventilating means for adjusting the latter, and a linkage between both of said cams and said timing means for adjusting the latter, said cams and said linkages being constructed and arranged to adjust the timing means and the ventilatixig means in correlation to eil'ect toastingvof the bread to a desired color and a desired degree of crispness.

8. In an automatic bread toaster, adjustable timing means for varying the duration ot the toasting cycle to obtain toast o1' a desired color, means for varying the toasting rate to obtain varying degrees of crispness of the toast, and means `ior adjusting said timing means in correlafof the toastin said ventilating-means, thereby to correlate the time duration oi the toasting cycle with the toasting rate'and thus obtain the desired color of the toast ve'` o! variation of the degree of crispness.

10. Inan automatic toaster, means movable I between operative and inoperative positions for initiating and terminating the toasting operation,

tive position, means for latel'iing said movable means in its operative position, means for releasing saidlatching means to terminate the toasting cycle, adjustable timing means tor controlling the operation oi said releasing means, means for ad- Justing said timing means cycle and thus obtain toast o! a desired color, means tor varying the toasting `rate to obtain varying degrees of crispness. of the toast, and means -for adjusting said timing means in correlation with the adjustment Aof said lastnamed means, thereby to correlate the time duration of the toasting cycle with the toasting rate and thus obtain thedesired color of the toast irrespective oi variation oi the degree of crispness.

11. In an automatic toaster, means movable between operative and inoperative positions for initiating and terminating the toasting operation, means urgingl said movable means to its inoperative position, means for latching said movable means in its operative position, means Afor releasing said latcning means to terminate the toasting cycle, adjustable timing means for controlling the operation oi said releasing means, means ior adjusting said timing means tovarr tion of the toasting cycle and thus obtain toast of a desired color, adjustable ventilating means4 wasting rate to obtain varying oi the toast, and means for adjusting said timing means in correlation with the adiustment oi said Ventilating means, thereby to correlate the time duration of the toasting cycle with the toasting rate and thus obtain the desired color oi the toast irrespective oi variation oi the degree of crispness.

for varying the to vary the duration base and having openings said mst-named means I 12. In a toaster, a base having spaced air openings therein, a toasting chamber above said base and adapted to reecive air admitted through said openings, a movable member adjacent to said alignment with the openings in the base, and manually adjustable means ing said member, to thereby vary of said toasting chamber and'thus vary of toasting.

13. In a toaster, a base having spaced air opena toasting chamber above said base and adapted to receive air admitted through said openings, a movable member adjacent to said the ventilation the rate base and having openings arranged for varying alignment with the openings in the base, means ior varying the duration of the toasting cycle to obtain toast of a desired color, means for variably positioning toasting rate and thus obtain varying degrees of crispness oi the toast, and means for adjusting in correlation with the positioning of said' member, thereby to correlate the time duration of the toasting cycle with the toasting rate and thus obtain the desired color of the toast irrespective of `variation of the degree of crispness. l

14. 1n a toaster, a base having spaced air openings therein, a toasting chamber above said base and adapted to receive air admitted through said alignment with the openings in the base, adjustable timing means, Iorvarying Vthe duration of the toasting cycle to obtain toast of a desired color, means forvariably positioning saidv meinber to vary the ventilationof said toasting chamber, thereby to vary the toasting rate and thus obtain varying degrees oi crispness of the toast, and'means for adjusting said timing means in correlation with the positioning orsaid member, thereby to correlate the time duration of the toasting cycle with the toasting rate and thus obtain the desired color bf the toast irrespective of variation oi the; degree of crispness.

15. In an automatic toaster, manually operable means ior controlling the duration of the toasting irrespective of the crispness control adjustment.

JOSEPH W. MERS.

arranged ior varying for v ariably positionsaid member to vary xthe ventilation ,of said toasting chamber, thereby to vary the the toasting rate 

